HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410 cc371-2W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on responsibility for transport between(a) parts of the United Kingdom covered by devolved Administrations, (b) England and (c) Northern Ireland. [127778]

Mr. Jamieson

The responsibility for transport between the United Kingdom Government, devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland is outlined as follows:

Wales

The National Assembly for Wales"s powers are limited to those functions specifically transferred to it by a Transfer of Functions Order, or conferred on it by specific primary legislation or an EU Designation Order. The functions which have been devolved in the field of transport include, among others, maintenance and improvement of the Welsh trunk road network, funding local authority expenditure on roads, a range of road safety responsibilities, concessionary parking schemes for disabled and blind people, land use and surface access planning. Railways, aviation and shipping issues in Wales are generally the responsibility of the UK Government.

Scotland

Unless a matter is expressly reserved to the UK Government in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, it is devolved. The Scottish Parliament has legislative competence in areas of transport including the Scottish road network; parking controls; promotion of road safety; bus policy; concessionary fares; cycling; taxis and minicabs; non-technical aspects of transport for disabled people; promotion and construction of new railways which start and end in Scotland; grants for passenger rail services; consultative arrangements in respect of public transport; ports, harbours, piers and boatslips; provision of freight shipping and ferry services, including CalMac; activities of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.; planning and environmental issues relating to airports; and inland waterways

In addition, the Scottish Executive have power to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority in relation to franchised rail services that both start and end in Scotland; power to issue directions and guidance to the SRA in respect of franchised sleeper services; power to give advice to the SRA in relation to cross-border franchised rail services; applications to the EU for the designation of lifeline air services; and enforcement of vehicle emissions standards. The Executive are also the highway authority for the Scottish Trunk Road network.

Functions reserved to the UKG in the field of transport in Scotland include transport security; transport safety and regulation, including the regulation of air transport and shipping, marine and air safety, the provision and regulation of railway services including rail safety; and marine, air and rail accident prevention and investigation; some aspects of road traffic regulation, including driver and vehicle licensing and testing, road signing, vehicle standards, general speed limits; some aspects of road safety; and technical standards relating to the transport of disabled persons.

Northern Ireland

While devolution in Northern Ireland is suspended, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has assumed responsibility for the direction and control of the Northern Ireland Departments including that dealing with transport.

England

The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for all legislative matters regarding transport in England. He is also the highway authority for the trunk road network in England.

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